Marine 1 Bradford Park Avenue 0

 John Deacey’s men suffered another afternoon when nothing went their way.

It was a damaging defeat in their hunt for a play-off place and, if they fail to beat Burscough at home tomorrow night, they really will be up against it in the final weeks of the season.

Saturday’s defeat leaves Avenue eight points adrift of the top five with just eight games remaining.

Deacey had two of his form players in Nicky Boshell (unavailable) and Matty Plummer (injured) missing so had changes to make in defence and up front.

Quality replacements in the shape Aiden Savory and Henry McStay came in but the side had lost some balance and the five-match unbeaten streak ground to a halt.

The home side threatened first but John Lamb was alert and turned Neil Harvey’s shot around the post for a corner. When that was delivered, two Marine men leapt for it and the resulting double header flicked onto the bar and over.

Avenue were soon into their stride though and they dominated the remaining 35 minutes of the half, especially the last 20, when the home side were penned deep inside their own territory.

Rob O’Brien sent Tom Greaves away and his cross found Savory but his shot zipped just wide.

A later Savory header hit the side netting and then Greaves scuffed a shot with only the home keeper to beat.

The first half ended with skipper O’Brien bending a free-kick around the wall, only to see it thump against the post with the home keeper stranded.

Marine must have been told in no uncertain terms that their first-half display was unacceptable because they began the second period much brighter. But even then the visitors should have scored before their hosts produced the only goal of the game.

The towering James Riley headed inches wide from a Martin Drury corner just minutes before Marine profited from a bad error of judgement. Centre back Riley ducked under a through ball, thinking left back Drury was sweeping behind him, which allowed Aaron Rey to nip in and, though Lamb got a hand to the low shot, he could not keep it out.

Lamb and his opposite number were called on to make fine saves as both sides forced chances in an entertaining game.

The woodwork denied Avenue once again when Greaves curled a shot against the bar.

Then a challenge from James Knowles on Steven Brown led to the referee giving a soft penalty to the home side but Harvey blazed it high over the target.